Upkeep

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT UPKEEP - PAGE 4

How did you get to work or go to the store today? What route does your child's school bus take on its way to school? There's a good chance the answer includes traveling over or under a bridge. Pennsylvania has 22,000 bridges that are tracked by the Federal Highway Administration. According to the Road Information Program, a group in Washington, D.C., 25 percent of these bridges show signs of significant deterioration. "Pennsylvania has the third-highest percentage of structurally deficient bridges in the country, behind only Oklahoma and Rhode Island," says a study released last week by TRIP.

The state Public Utility Commission has ordered the city of Allentown and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to share the cost of maintaining the Downyflake Lane bridge. Maintenance of the bridge was the subject of a PUC hearing in August 1986. The bridge opened about three months later. During the hearing, both the city and state disclaimed responsibility for maintaining the bridge. Stephen F. Turoscy Jr., city streets and bridge engineer, said yesterday that the city was ordered to oversee the maintenance and send a bill to PennDOT for half of the cost.

Tom Ridge says he would enroll non-violent inmates in work gangs and boot camps to help maintain state parks and recreational areas. The Republican gubernatorial candidate, on the third day of his campaign bicycle trip, stopped in Plainfield Township yesterday morning to show support for "Rails-to-Trails," an innovative recreational program. After peering down the 7-mile, tree-lined linear park, an abandoned railroad bed, he said recreational dollars could be stretched with volunteer and non-volunteer labor.

Emmaus officials hope the maintenance of borough ball fields and parks will improve this spring and summer -- enough to spend more than $11,000 over the lowest bid submitted by last year's contractor. Borough Council on Monday accepted the "lowest responsible bid" from M.D. Turf and Landscape of Palmer for $26,862 to cut and trim the grass on borough fields. Council bypassed an offer from Country Estate Lawn Maintenance of Wind Gap for $15,311. Last year Country Estate had the maintenance contract which was then for $18,623.

Some Upper Milford Township firefighters are burning mad over an arrangement that would require them to pay for maintaining a proposed new hydrant on Yeakel's Mill Road. "We just don't feel the burden should be put on us," Ira Shade, an assistant chief for the township's western district fire company, said last night. "It should be the community that pays for it. Why should we have to put that out?" Shade said, referring to the proposed $35 annual maintenance fee. The firefighters, who provide protection to about half of this sprawling rural community, asked officials to approach Red Hill Water Authority about connecting a fire hydrant to the authority's pipeline.

Iran financed the confinement and upkeep of the American hostages who were held in Lebanon and also paid their captors $1 million to $2 million for each hostage released, according to Bush administration officials who have studied the long ordeal and eventual liberation of the captive Americans. U.S. officials interviewed since last month's release of Terry Anderson, the last of the American hostages, said nearly all the key negotiations about the American captives were in Tehran, rather than Lebanon, and advance word of impending releases came from the Iranian Foreign Ministry through diplomatic channels several days ahead of each recent release.

Management of the road department was the focus of discussion at the Upper Mount Bethel Township supervisors' meeting this week. A number of residents expressed concern that the township has indefinitely laid off three road workers and questioned how the roads will be maintained. Former Supervisor Jeff Manzi, who resigned earlier this year, said the road department will be in "big trouble" unless there is some direction. "I've sat back for seven months now and haven't said anything," he said, "We've got to look at our leaders - the work just isn't getting done.

After spending some $20 million on a new high school and renovations to other schools in the last five years, the Wilson Area School District figures it would be smart to spend close to $500,000 over the next seven years to maintain its properties. For the first time, a maintenance schedule for the district was prepared and presented last week by district Business Manager Richard Male and Maintenance Supervisor Joe Janik. The schedule of roof repairs, air conditioning, paving and repaving begins this school year and totals more than $421,000.

Allentown officials closed down the Eighth Street bridge periodically late Monday and early Tuesday for cleaning and repairs. Travelers from the south were detoured to downtown Allentown by way of Lehigh Street or 15th Street during the bridge closings. The maintenance was announced just before 11 p.m. Monday. — Frank Warner

Allentown officials closed down the the Hamilton Street bridge over the Lehigh River late Tuesday for an early Wednesday street cleaning. The morning before, street crews shut the Eighth Street bridge for cleaning and repairs. While the Hamilton Street bridge is out, travelers have to take detours, using the Tilghman Street bridge to the north, to go from downtown Allentown to east Allentown, or to go from the east side back. — Frank Warner